The Dallas Cowboys could be in the market for a running back near the trade deadline. They had one of the worst rushing attacks in the NFL last season, and if their offseason additions cannot get the job done, they may need reinforcements.
Travis Etienne was a first-round pick by the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2021. After missing the entire 2021 seasons, he had back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons. He eclipsed 1,400 scrimmage yards in 2022 and 2023, but last season, his usage declined. The arrival of Tank Bigsby has significantly eaten into his workload, and Pro Football Network's Sterling Xie tabbed the Cowboys as a trade fit for him.
"The Cowboys would loom as the most logical trade partner on paper," wrote Xie. "Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer was the offensive coordinator when Jacksonville drafted Etienne in 2021. Etienne didn’t play at all that season because of a preseason foot injury, but it stands to reason that Schottenheimer would welcome a reunion with the Cowboys lacking a clear lead back."
Etienne is playing 2025 on his fifth-year option and is projected to earn a four-year, $32 million deal in free agency. The Cowboys signed Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders to one-year deals, but neither seems fit to be a long-term solution in the Cowboys' backfield.
Last season, the Cowboys had the sixth-fewest rushing yards in the NFL. Etienne can make an impact in both the passing and running game. Getting Dak Prescott a weapon like Etienne could be great for the Cowboys. Etienne could also be a part of their team for years to come.
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If the Jaguars have no intention of keeping him around, the Cowboys might be able to land him for a Day 2 or Day 3 draft pick.
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